We’ve been around the block a few times – even as the blocks seem to keep getting longer. We have learned to accept the blessing and burdens of life while embracing our age. And since the days when we thought we knew it all, we’ve learned many lessons. If you were asked to share those lessons, what advice would you give?

I received an email, one of those that circulate in the Internet world, with what I thought was good advice about aging. I can’t list all of them and I have condensed the ones I have but tell me what you think of the advice this writer shares.

• Stop worrying about the financial situation of your children and grandchildren, and don’t feel bad spending your money on yourself. The responsibility is now theirs to earn their own money.
• Keep a healthy life, without great physical effort. Do moderate exercise like walking every day, eat well and get your sleep.
• Don’t stress over the little things. You’ve already overcome so much in your life. You have good memories and bad ones, but the important thing is the present. Don’t let the past drag you down and don’t let the future frighten you. Feel good in the now.
• Always stay up-to-date. Keeping in touch with what is going on and with the people you know is important at any age.
• Respect the younger generation and their opinions. They may not have the same ideals as you, but they are the future and will take the world in their direction. Give advice, not criticism, and try to remind them that yesterday’s wisdom still applies today
• Some people embrace their golden years, while others become bitter and surly. Life is too short to waste your days on the latter. Spend your time with positive, cheerful people, it’ll rub off on you and your days will seem that much better.
• Don’t abandon your hobbies. If you don’t have any, make new ones. Find something you like and spend some real time having fun with it.
• Even if you don’t feel like it, try to accept invitations: Baptisms, graduations, birthdays, weddings. Try to go. Get out of the house, meet people you haven’t seen in a while, experience something new – or something old.
• Pain and discomfort go hand in hand with getting older. Try not to dwell on them but accept them as a part of the cycle of life we’re all going through.
• If you’ve been offended by someone – forgive them. If you’ve offended someone – apologize. Don’t drag around resentment with you. It only serves to make you sad and bitter.
• If you have a strong belief, savor it. But don’t waste your time trying to convince others. Live your faith and set an example.
• Laugh a lot. Laugh at everything. Find the humor in your situation.

I had to keep it short but if you want to read the full list uncondensed, go to  www.midcolumbiseniorcenter.comand click on the tab: ADVICE TO LIVE BY.

The children who watched from the on-stage bleachers in the pioneering children’s show Howdy Doody were called the “peanut gallery.” I received correct answers from Jeanne Pesicka, Susan Ellis, Gene Uczen, Doug Nelson, Lana Tepfer, Tina Castanares, Dave Lutgens, and Jack Lorts, this week’s winner of a free raffle ticket. Last week I missed Keith Clymer.

Moving from Howdy Doody to another morning children’s show, the first actor to play the baggy pants horn honking Clarabell the Clown on Howdy Doody was Bob Keeshan who created and played the title character in another children’s TV show. For this week’s “Remember When” question, what was the name of this children’s show that aired from 1955 through 1984 and revolved around life in the “Treasure House” where the captain would tell stories, meet guests, and indulge in silly stunts. E-mail your answer to mcseniorcenter@gmail.com, call 541-296-4788 or drop it off while wearing a blue coat with large pockets.

Well, it’s been another week enjoying the ride even with the random bumps and bruises. Until we meet again, I realized while driving that a benefit of age is I don’t feel I must drive fast to impress my peers. I can go as unhurried as I want!

 “Everywhere is within walking distance – if you have the time.” Steven Wright

Do you feel like you’ve been singing the same old song and now your voice is getting hoarse? With the new Delta variant of the COVID-19 virus, we seem to be turning back the hands of time to a place we didn’t want to go again. But here we are. The positive cases of COVID-19 are increasing, hospitals beds are getting critically low, care facilities are limiting outside visitors, and once again we need to wear masks indoors in public places.

It’s frustrating and confusing because everything keeps changing – what we should and should not do. It feels like a moving target. But this virus is new and is continuously being studied with decisions made on the best science at the time. And then new variants such as the Delta variant show up and change the whole equation.

The good news is because the most vulnerable are highly vaccinated the number of deaths is significantly lower. But being vaccinated doesn’t protect you 100%. If you have symptoms of COVID-19 or if you were in close contact with someone with COVID-19, you should get tested regardless of whether you’ve been vaccinated or not. Home testing kits are available at most pharmacies for around $20 and Walgreen’s offers drive through testing, but appointments are limited. Check with your insurance company firt.

Most people who get COVID-19 have mild or moderate symptoms and can recover. But we need to keeping singing that familiar chorus: wear a mask, keep socially distanced, and get vaccinated. And if we sing loud enough, hopefully, this latest surge will soon subside.

Two weeks ago, I wrote about the serious problem of older adults being financially abused. To reduce the risk, older adults should make sure their financial affairs are in order – and as we all know that is not always easy.  

One program that can help reduce the risk of financial abuse while promoting independent living is the Money Management Program offered by CAPECO – the Area Agency on Aging serving older adults in Sherman, Wasco, and Hood River Counties. (In Washington, supports for older adults are provided through the counties: Klickitat Senior Services (509) 773-3757 or Skamania Senior Services (509) 427-3990.)

CAPECO Money Management Program provides Representative Payee services to help individuals maintain independence, obtain financial security, and prevent financial abuse. The program is certified and approved by the Social Security Administration and the Veterans Administration.

When you are enrolled in the program, an individualized budget is prepared. All bills and bank accounts are handled by this program with assistance from the participant. The benefit is that the Representative Payees will ensure that basic expenses and necessary payments are given priority – and not the bail money to the fake grandson in Arizona.

The CAPECO Money Management Program is personalized, confidential, and safe, and is available to low-income adults. If you know someone who has difficulty managing their finances, call 541-276-1926 to learn more about this valuable program.

Archie’s best friend was the easy-going but lazy and slightly nonconformist friend Forsythe Pendleton Jones III more commonly known as Jughead. I received correct answers from Jeanne Pesicka, Susan Ellis, Emmett Sampson, Sam Bilyeu, Glenna McCarger, Gene Uczen, Dave Lutgens, Jim Tindall, Margo Dameier, Richard Shaw, Doug Nelson, and Gloria Krantz, this week’s winner of a free raffle ticket. Last week I only missed Doug Nelson – unless someone tells me otherwise.

Let’s go back to childhood memories of watching Saturday morning TV. You may remember Howdy Doody, a pioneer in children’s television, broadcast on NBC from 1947 until 1960, and one of the first TV shows to include audience participation. For this week’s “Remember When” question, what were the children called who watched from the on-stage bleachers? E-mail your answer to mcseniorcenter@gmail.com, call 541-296-4788 or drop it off with a replica of the puppet Phineas T. Bluster: mayor of Doodyville.

Well, it’s been another week enjoying “those hazy, crazy days of summer”. Until we meet again, remember what your teachers always told you, “Pay attention!”

“No matter how one may think himself accomplished, when he sets out to learn a new language, science, or the bicycle, he has entered a new realm as truly as if he were a child newly born into the world.” Francis Willard author of “How I Learned to Ride the Bicycle”

 When you arrive back home after visiting your health care provider, do you ever ask yourself “Now what did she mean?” I may not be the sharpest bulb in the drawer, but I am literate and can read, write, and comprehend most things, but health literacy is difficult. Health Literacy defined by the Health and Human Services (HHS) Healthy People 2030 Initiative is “the ability to find, understand, and use information and services to inform health-related decisions and actions for themselves and others”.

Today, I can find the notes and visit summaries of all my medical visits on MyChart so finding the information is the easiest part. But to understand and use the information is the challenge.

Your primary care provider’s responsibility is to help you understand and use the information so you can better manage your health. But it is also your responsibility to be an active participant in your health care. To do that here are several suggestions you can use when speaking with your primary care provider.

1.) Ask questions. And make sure you get the answers to those questions. “Why are you ordering this test? Why are you prescribing this medication? What side effects can it cause?

2.) Be your own pharmacist. Bring your medicines with you including your over-the-counter and prescription medicines, supplements, vitamins, and herbal medicines to make sure there are no drug interactions. Medline Plus is an excellent resource to better understand the medications you are taking.

3.) Tell the truth. This can be tough. You don’t want to give the impression you are slacking: not exercising or flossing, or worse yet not taking your medications. If you want the most accurate diagnosis and treatment you need to say it like it is.

4.) Bring someone with you. When it is more than my annual checkups, I bring my wife so there is another set of ears – and a better memory.

5.) Know your medical history. The more you know about your health history the better you can participate in your own health decisions.

6.) Tell them if you have a disability that may make communication more difficult. If it is hearing loss, remind them that talking louder helps, but talking clearly and facing you works better.

7.) Don’t walk away in the dark. Your health care provider wants to help you make the best health care decisions, so make sure you understand what your provider said. You can ask clarifying questions such as “Let me see if I understand this”.

With the advances in health care, information is more available but also more complicated and confusing even to the most educated people. Today it is important to not only know how to find your medical information but to also understand and use that information to better manage your health. 

The series of signs which usually consisted of six consecutive small signs creating a short catchy verse advertised Burma Shave. (If you want to read all 600 Burma Shave jingles you can find them on the Internet at http://burma-shave.org/jingles/.) I received correct answers from Clare Zumwalt, Jay Gasperson, Billie Maxwell, Jeanne Pesicka, Al Winans, Susan Ellis, Norma Simpson, Linda Frizzell, Patty Burnet, Barbara Cadwell, Richard Shaw, Dave Lutgens, Margo Dameier, Pat Kelly, Gene Uczen, Keith Clymer, Lana Tepfer, and Glenna Mahurin this week’s winner of a quilt raffle ticket. Last week I missed Sam Bilyeu, Jeanne Pesicka, Susan Ellis and Ron Nelson.

Last week it was highway literature but this week it is the fine literature of my youth. Well sort of. Archie Comics published comic books featuring stories of five high school friends: Archie, Reggie, Veronica, Betty, and Archie’s best friend the easy-going but lazy and slightly nonconformist friend Forsythe Pendleton Jones III. What was the nickname for Archie’s best friend? E-mail your answer to mcseniorcenter@gmail.com, call 541-296-4788 or write it on the inside cover of a 1941 Riverdale High School Yearbook.

Well, that is the end of another box of cereal – and I still haven’t found the prize! Until we meet again, before you start making a big fuss consider what Vic Gold said. “The squeaking wheel doesn’t always get the grease. Sometimes it gets replaced!”

“If you keep your head when all about you are losing theirs, it’s just possible you haven’t grasped the situation.” Jean Kerr, writer

You’ve been caring for your elderly mom for years making sure her bills are paid and taking her to her doctor’s appointments. But recently you were laid off from your job and bills are piling up. You’re desperate and you think your mom won’t care. And besides, it will be your inheritance anyway, so you take her money as a “loan”.

This may not be a typical example, but elder financial abuse has become a serious problem nationwide. (In Oregon the average loss to a victim is nearly seventeen thousand dollars.) But what is typical is that the victims of financial abuse are more often women than men by nearly a 2:1 margin, and the highest percentage of perpetrators are family members and others that are in a close relationship with the victim.

Elder financial abuse occurs when someone steals money or other things of value from an older person such as stealing an elder’s valuables, using the elder’s cash or credit cards, or taking control of an elder’s power of attorney. The long-term consequences can be devastating. To stop the financial abuse, look for these red flags: significant withdrawals from accounts; unpaid bills or lack of medical care; unnecessary services, goods, or subscriptions; and financial activity the elder couldn’t have done.

Any older adult is at risk of financial abuse. But those who are particularly vulnerable are isolated older adults who do not have a trusted person checking on them, who have dementia which limits their ability to make decisions, think clearly, and care for themselves; and those older adults who have found a “New Best Friend” who tries to befriend them and take their money when there is not a trusted friend or family member close by.

But why would anyone take financial advantage of a vulnerable older adult? The perpetrator may feel that the elderly person’s belongings are rightfully theirs through inheritance; the elder will use all their savings and leave nothing for the family, or the abuser wants to keep other family members from inheriting the elderly person’s assets. (I’m the only one who has been caring for mom!) And then there are family members who just feel their mom doesn’t need the money – and they do.

We all want to be trusting of others, but we should also be aware of the consequences when we trust someone who we feel is looking after our best interests – but aren’t.                                                         

If you suspect possible financial abuse in Oregon call the local Aging and People with Disabilities office or call Oregon’s toll-free hotline: 1-855-503-SAFE (7233). In Washington contact Washington Adult Protective Services in your community or call 1-866-363-4276.

In today’s Gorge News you’ll find this month’s “Through the Eyes of an Elder” a monthly column where older adults share thoughts and experiences we don’t often hear. This month’s writer is Joel Kabakov who shares his story about aging and the natural wonders of the Gorge.

The name of the television variety show starring Buck Owens and Roy Clark featuring country music and humor was Hee Haw.I received correct answers from Barbara Cadwell, Gene Uczen, Richard Shaw, Pat Still, Dave Lutgens, Doug Nelson, Rhonda Spies, Jess Birge, Keith Clymer, Joan Chantler, Stephen Woolpert, and this week’s winner of a quilt raffle ticket, Super Duck Mike Kilkenny. Last week I missed Jay Waterbury, Judy and Dave, and Gene Uczen.

This week’s “Remember When” question is from the category – highway literature. From 1925 until 1963 these series of signs were popular along America’s expanding roadway system and usually consisted of six consecutive small signs creating a short catchy verse advertising a particular product. One example was “Listen Birds/ These signs cost money/ So sit a spell/ But don’t get funny”. What was the name of the product advertised on these roadside billboards? E-mail your answer to mcseniorcenter@gmail.com, call 541-296-4788 or leave it inside a case of Vintage Gillette Safety Shaving Razors. 

Well, it’s been another week trying to find the energy to do what needs to be done. Until we meet again, it’s been said that it’s not whether you get knocked down, it’s whether you get back up – but getting up sure takes a lot longer these days!

“The past is a good place to visit, but I wouldn’t want to live there.” Author Unknown

I’ve found that after I’ve asked someone to repeat themselves – for the third time, they just shake their head with that look that says “Oh, never mind. It’s not that important – even though your house is on fire!” Or when someone asks me a question, I often just silently nod, with a goofy smile, hoping I just didn’t agree to something I’ll regret. Ah, the joys of living with hearing loss.

This became particularly evident during my family reunion in Montana. The eight of us spent most of the time around the table sharing childhood memories, discussing sports and politics, and deciding who is going when to visit what the next day. But often I found it difficult to understand the conversation and would turn to my wife and ask, “What did they say?”. I felt like a tourist in a foreign land with my interpreter!

Those familiar with hearing loss get it. But those who aren’t, or experience it only once a year at a family reunion, often don’t understand. So how do you describe hearing loss to others?

Recently I read “How to Explain Hearing Loss to the Uninitiated” by Shari Eberts on the Living with Hearing Loss blog that offers several suggestions

Explain that hearing loss Is like playing Wheel of Fortune. On Wheel of Fortune, the contestants try to identify a phrase with only some of the letters visible. With hearing loss, you are trying to do the same, but with sounds instead of letters. You are constantly combining these incomplete sounds with other clues: lipreading (Masks don’t help.), body language (You need to face me!), and the context within the conversation to come up with something coherent. 

They may also believe hearings aids work like glasses and can give you 20-20 hearing. Hearing aids make sounds louder but are not always good at differentiating among sounds so the sounds often remain muffled or unclear making it harder to hear particularly in a noisy environment.

She has several other suggestions but those two I found most helpful in explaining hearing loss to my family so conversations don’t lead to frustration, anger, name-calling – which is sometimes my wife’s reaction when I can’t understand her. And she loves me!

Good news! Many senior and community centers have or will soon welcome folks back for in-person activities and meals. For example, the Hood River Valley Adult Center will be open starting August 2^nd. Masks will be required except when eating and there will be few other safety requirements which are a small inconvenience so we can gather again safely. Check with the meal site in your area to learn more.

The broadcast journalist who served as anchorman for the CBS Evening News for nineteen years and during that time reported on the assassination of President John F. Kennedy and other significant events was Walter Cronkite. I received correct answers from Rhonda Spies, Doug Nelson, Barbara Cadwell, Jess Birge, Margo Dameier, Stephen Woolpert, Susan Ellis, and the winner of a quilt raffle ticket Alan Winans. 

And for the previous week’s Paul Lynde question, I received correct answers from Susan Ellis, Barbara Cadwell, Doug Nelson, Kim Birge, Dave Lutgens, Margo Dameier, Lana Tepfer, Rhonda Spies, Keith Clymer, Gene Uczen, and that week’s winner of a quilt raffle ticket “CK the DJ” Courtney Kiser.

Even furrrrrrther back I missed Keith Clymer, Pat Kelly, J Chantler, and Clare Zumwalt, and in my coming and going I probably missed a few more.

I know many of you are country music fans so you may have watched this show starring Buck Owens and Roy Clark. For this week’s “Remember When” question, what was the name of the television variety show aired on CBS-TV from 1969–1971 (before going into syndication) and featured country music and humor from the fictional rural Kornfield Kounty? E-mail your answer to mcseniorcenter@gmail.com, call 541-296-4788 or drop it off with a greasy hamburger from Lulu’s Truck Stop.

Well, it’s been another week, trying to resist the irresistible. Until we meet again, in life there are good days – and then there are days when you feel like “Lonesome” George Gobel when he asked, “Did you ever get the feeling that the world was a tuxedo and you were a pair of brown shoes?”

“Birthdays are good for you. Statistics show that the people who have the most live the longest.” Larry Lorenzoni 

Lets’ face it – we aren’t getting any younger (or better looking – although I have noticed I find grey much more attractive these days!) And at some point in our lives, we will likely have difficulty caring for ourselves. It may be anticipated or unexpected; short–term or unending, because life happens and not always the way we wish. 

Okay, you’re fairly certain you don’t have early-stage dementia. And you want to keep mentally sharp so when you finally find your car in the parking lot, you know the way home. What should you do?

Most brain research suggests there are six lifestyle behaviors that impact brain health. But before I go any further, take a minute and consider what they could be.

Did you think of ongoing exercise with the goal of exercising several times per week for 30–60 minutes? Or eating right such as a Mediterranean diet that emphasizes plant-based foods, whole grains, fish, and healthy fats such as olive oil?

Good. But you may not have thought of the next three: managing stress such as practicing mindful meditation; restorative sleep preferably seven to eight hours; and being social which with the lifting of restrictions will be easier now.

Now the last may seem the most obvious: engaging the brain. There are many simple although not easy ways to challenge your brain that you can do by yourself anytime, and anywhere. (You don’t have to carry around a book of Sudoku puzzles or download a brain training app.)

Here are three mental exercises you can try just using that grey matter between your ears.

1.) Think of a list of items such as the months in the year and without paper and pencil alphabetize them by their first letter – and then by the second letter.

2.) Make a list of anything that comes to mind such as a to-do list and memorize it. An hour or so later, see how many items you can recall. You may often do this already when you leave your shopping list on the kitchen table!

3.) “Backward Digit Span”. When you hear or read a four-digit number, repeat it – but backward. Try increasing the number of digits and see how many digits you can repeat. Now try the same idea with letters.

You can keep your brain sharp by incorporating these six behaviors into your daily activities. You just have to put your mind to it.

Now that both Washington and Oregon have lifted most COVID restrictions, it is now up to us to decide what level of risk we want to accept. The risk has diminished significantly but there is still a risk. And even though I am fully vaccinated, and Oregon has reached the milestone of 70% vaccinated (and an even higher percentage for older adults) I’m still going to wear a mask when shopping indoors. For me, it is a wise choice.

In this month’s “Through the Eyes of an Elder”, Jamie Olivera interviews Ramiro Elisea who in 1968 made the journey from Mexico to “enjoy working hard” in the orchards in Hood River. It is an inspiring story worth reading.

The title of the novel by Grace Metalious published in 1956 that followed the lives of three women in a small New England village where the residents hold seamy sordid secrets was Peyton Place. I received correct answers from Susan Ellis, Steven Woolpert, Jeannie Pesicka, Karen Asai, Vicki, Billie Maxwell, Norma Simpson, Gene Uczen, Kim Birge, Margo Dameier, Lana Tepfer, Christy Turner, Dave Lutgens, Barbara Cadwell, Sharon Hartley, and Vicki White this week’s winner of a quilt raffle ticket. And last week I missed Susan Ellis and now I’ve forgotten who else I forgot last week!

It’s summer, it’s hot, so what did many of us do when we were younger – or maybe still do? We headed to the beach or our local swimming pool. During the summer of 1960, this song sung by Brian Hyland reached #1 and made this style of bathing suit – which was initially considered too risque – the rage of the beaches and swimming pools to the glee of every young man. For this week’s “Remember When” question, what was the name of the song? E-mail your answer to mcseniorcenter@gmail.com, call 541-296-4788 or drop it off while singing “One, two, three, four/Tell the people what she wore”.

Well, it’s been another week gently telling my younger friends, “I can do it!”. Until we meet again, don’t you find what’s most irritating about driving on the highway is encountering someone driving the speed limit?

“The trick to accomplishing anything is to avoid the obstacles that are not in your way.” Robert Brault

Boy, it’s been hot!

It reminds me of my younger days living in Indiana when we didn’t have air conditioning:  fans strategically placed throughout the house; a dehumidifier in the basement; sleeping uncovered, sprawled out on the bed, driving with the windows down and my shirt glued with perspiration to the back of the seat: hopping barefoot on the hot asphalt waiting in line to enter the pool. (I wasn’t too smart at that age!); and wearing my bathing suit all day long – which I thought I’d try again, but my wife quickly nixed that idea. Do you have memories of those not-so-good, good old days without air conditioning?

But we managed, didn’t we? Fortunately, these days there is air conditioning. Unfortunately, we are more susceptible to dehydration during these hot days because the percentage of a person’s weight in water significantly decreases as we get older. Consequently, any decrease in drinking fluids can cause proportionately more dehydration which can take a tremendous toll on every aspect of bodily functions, including possible changes in memory, vision, and kidney and heart function. (Okay, I’ll be back. I’m going to get a glass of water!)

Besides drinking plenty of liquids, preferably at least six cups throughout the day, stay cool. My house has only two window air conditioners so the house can get pretty warm. These last several days I’ve been using ice packs (or bag of frozen peas works well), cold water foot baths, and cold showers – plus plenty of fans.

As you hear on the news, heatwaves are dangerous. Thousands of emergency department visits are caused by heat illnesses and two of the most serious ones are heat stroke and heat exhaustion.

Heat stroke requires immediate medical attention. Someone experiencing heat stroke may have a headache, confusion, no sweating, rapid heart rate, nausea or vomiting, and may lose consciousness.

If a heat stroke is suspected, it is vital to take the following steps: Call 911 immediately.

Move the person to a cooler place, use cold compresses to get their temperature down, and do NOT give them fluids.                                                                                                                                     

Unlike heat stroke, heat exhaustion does not require immediate medical attention. The early warning signs of heat exhaustion are nausea, light-headedness, fatigue, muscle cramping, and dizziness. It is imperative to recognize the warning signs and act on them as soon as possible to help get the temperature down and cool the person’s body. Those steps include moving the person to an air-conditioned place; having them take a cold shower or using cold compresses; drinking plenty of fluid, and removing tight or extra clothing.

You probably know all of this, but it doesn’t hurt to be reminded because even with air conditioning during a prolonged heat wave with the hot days and nights that don’t cool off, homes can get dangerously warm. Stay cool, stay hydrated (although I would NOT recommend six glasses of your favorite wine!) And don’t forget to take time to check on your neighbors to make sure they can handle the heat.

Next week I’ll write more about dementia and how to keep your brain sharp.

The name of the original 1965 award-winning Broadway musical Inspired by Miguel de Cervantes and his 17th-century novel Don Quixote was Man of La Mancha. I received correct answers from Doug Nelson, Gene Uczen, Lana Tepfer, John McGuinn, Dave Lutgens, Diana Weston, Barbara Cadwell, and Deloris Schrader this week’s winner of a quilt raffle ticket. And last week I missed a bunch: Patty Burnet, Pat Evenson-Brady, Billie Maxwell, Keith Clymer, Gene Uczen, and Lana Tepfer.

This week’s question is about fine literature: a novel written not by Hemingway or Steinbeck, but Grace Metalious which was on the New York Times bestseller list for 59 weeks. For this week’s “Remember When” question what was the title of her novel published in 1956 that followed the lives of three women in a small New England village and became a popular expression describing a place where the residents hold seamy sordid secrets E-mail your answer to mcseniorcenter@gmail.com, call 541-296-4788 or send it with a DVD of the 1964 primetime television adaption of the book.

Well, it’s been another week enjoying cold showers and popsicles. Until we meet again, when does something misplaced become lost?

“I’m glad it is finally hot enough to complain about how hot it is!” Unknown

 At our age, it‘s common to worry when you can’t remember a name, or you can’t find that word on the tip of your tongue. When that happens, I often ask myself, “Is this normal for my age? Or am I in the early stages of dementia?” And then the more I worry, the more I seem to forget!